lồng đèn
Definition
- Noun:
- Lantern: A portable light source, typically consisting of a frame (often made of bamboo, wood, or metal) with sides that can be covered by paper, silk, or glass, designed to protect a candle, oil lamp, or modern light bulb inside. It is commonly carried or hung for illumination, especially during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trẻ em rước lồng đèn trong đêm Trung thu. (Children parade with lanterns on the Mid-Autumn Festival night.)
- Chiếc lồng đèn giấy tỏa ra ánh sáng ấm áp. (The paper lantern emitted a warm light.)
- Cửa hàng bán rất nhiều lồng đèn hình ngôi sao. (The shop sells many star-shaped lanterns.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "lồng đèn" specifically emphasizes the caged or framed structure of the lantern. It is the general, standard term for this object in Vietnamese.
- "Đèn lồng" is a common variant with the same meaning. The word order is interchangeable in modern usage, though "lồng đèn" is often considered the more standard form.
Variants and Related Words
- Đèn lồng (n): Lantern. A direct variant of "lồng đèn".
- Phố cổ treo đầy đèn lồng đỏ. (The old town is hung full of red lanterns.)
- Đèn ông sao (n): Star lantern. A specific, traditional Vietnamese lantern shaped like a star, made from bamboo and colored cellophane paper, associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Đèn kéo quân (n): A special rotating lantern, often cylindrical, that uses heat from a candle to spin paper figures inside, creating shadow animations.
Synonyms
- Lantern: A light source in a protective case.
Related Idioms and Cultural Context
- "Rước đèn" or "rước lồng đèn": Refers to the tradition of children carrying lit lanterns in a parade or procession, most famously during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu). The lantern is a central symbol of this celebration.
- Lồng đèn is culturally distinct from "đèn pin" (flashlight/torch) or "đèn điện" (electric light), as it implies a decorative, often traditional, framed housing for the light source.